Automotive-Treatment Trends

C-store dollar sales of automotive treatments increased nearly 8% in 2013, while units declined slightly, according to IRI. Power Service and Howes Lubricator brands both had significant lifts in dollar and unit sales, and they also gained dollar share.

Automotive Treatments by Brand

Brand

C-store sales ($ millions)

PCYA

Unit sales (millions)

PCYA

STP

$59.8

-2.7%

15.8

-3.6%

Power Service

$17.7

59.6%

1.5

50.4%

Lucas

$16.3

21.2%

0.7

15.1%

Howes Lubricator

$15.8

77.0%

1.0

71.7%

Gumout

$14.1

-2.7%

4.1

-5.6%

Terra Cair

$10.0

9.9%

0.7

17.6%

Road Tech

$9.5

-12.9%

3.0

-9.6%

Private label

$7.5

6.7%

2.0

4.4%

Autoguard

$5.9

-3.8%

1.9

-3.7%

Mag 1

$5.7

1.5%

1.9

-3.8%

Total (including brands not shown)

$237.7

7.9%

49.9

-0.6%

Source: IRI

Antifreeze Trends

C-store sales of antifreeze rebounded in 2013, growing more than 5% in dollars and up nearly 4% in units. Peak claimed nearly 40% of the segment’s dollar share, according to IRI.

Antifreeze by Brand

Brand

C-store sales ($ millions)

PCYA

Unit sales (millions)

PCYA

Peak

$50.7

3.4%

4.5

1.5%

Shell Zone

$8.2

-18.8%

0.7

-22.7%

Road Tech

$7.0

-19.6%

0.7

-18.5%

STP

$6.9

106.8%

0.6

92.3%

Polar

$6.0

19.5%

0.5

15.8%

Pride

$4.7

-12.0%

0.4

-7.8%

Final Charge Global

$3.8

43.2%

0.3

40.9%

Texaco

$3.5

1.6%

0.3

-0.4%

Autoguard

$3.2

1.8%

0.3

-4.3%

Zecol

$2.6

144.5%

0.3

155.7%

Total (including brands not shown)

$124.0

5.3%

10.9

3.6%

Source: IRI

All Other Auto-Fluid Trends

The “all other auto-fluid segment,” a catchall for everything from flat fixers to windshield-washer fluids, saw strong growth in 2013. According to IRI, it was up nearly 26% in dollars and 27% in units, led by growth in the top two brands—Peak and Splash.

Plunge in oil prices sets the stage for record margins and boost in in-store sales. Also In This Issue: Profitability skyrockets for top performers! Other channels seek to redefine convenience! The economy enters a new stage. The growing health-and-wellness trend. Fuel demand; oil's slide; multicultural momentum; and data, data, data!

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